Page 48 of Make No Mistake

I laughed at the description. “That describes about half of the girls at our school.”

She laughed with me and seemed to relax. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“Well, I’m glad you found me. Do you want a drink? I can go get us some.”

“No thanks.”

I nodded. She just wanted to get this over with. I could definitely do that.

“Well, then let’s get started.” She smiled when I met her eyes. “Can you describe what happened that night?”

Her eyes dropped to the table. “I was doing my normal run before class. I try to switch up my routes so I don’t get bored, so that morning was the first time I’d done that path that week. Everything seemed normal.”

I typed down what she was saying. He couldn’t have been waiting for her since she switches her routes. She was another random victim.

“I don’t run with headphones when I’m alone, especially early in the morning or late at night.”

“You were doing everything right.” My heart broke for her. Sometimes you can do everything to prevent bad things and put every odd in your favor, but ultimately things are out of your control.

She nodded and looked up. “That’s what’s so frustrating.”

I watched her take a deep breath before she continued.

“I was about halfway through my run when I was struck from behind. I didn’t see him when I passed or anything. I didn’t hear him come from behind me.”

“Nikki, where exactly were you on the path?”

She thought for a moment before answering. “It was almost to where it curves and leads to the last building in the complex.”

“Can you describe that area for me?”

“It’s my favorite section because the trees are so overgrown that there’s a partial canopy, so it feels like you’re running through a tree tunnel.”

I noted what she said and nodded for her to continue.

“The path is mostly asphalt, but it’s cracked in some spots. Grass grows through so you have to watch your footing.”

“So you were in the canopy area. Is there room for someone to hide?”

Her eyes snapped to mine. “Behind the trees?”

I didn’t want to lead her responses but this was what my theory was based on.

“He had to have been. I didn’t see him, and I definitely didn’t hear anyone on the path behind me. The only explanation is that he was hiding in the trees, waiting for someone, for me.”

I added that to my notes. “How do you know it was a man?”

She bit her lip. “I’m not exactly short.” I laughed with her. I hadn’t stood next to her, but she looked like she would be about my height or taller. I noted she was at least five foot ten.

“I was hit in the back of the head. It would have been hard to get that angle for a shorter person.”

I nodded and kept typing.

“I assume it was a guy based on that and the force that was used. It knocked me out immediately.”

“Did you have any other injuries?”

Christina had been struck multiple times, even after she was unconscious.